At the heart of Italian culture is food. Food represents life: from the bounty that nature provides into the hands of the skillful cook to create a masterpiece, a skill that is passed down from generation to generation. The respect for and appreciation for the natural source of ingredients in Italian cooking allows for the simplicity in the preparation and the unique taste of each dish prepared. Mother and son duo, Rosetta and Mario, have been passionate about Italian cooking their entire lives; a passion instilled in them from spending valuable time with Nonna Maria in her kitchen from young. In this retreat, we will showcase the simplicity and unique taste of some of Nonna Maria’s vegetarian Italian cooking: from slow-cooked Sugo di Pomodoro (Tomato sauce), fresh egg-pasta and the rich flavours of the Melanzane Parmigiana (Eggplant parmesan) of South Italy, to the more cream and butter-based sweets of North Italy, such as Tiramisù and Biscotti di Limone e Mandorle (almond and lemon biscotti).
Brighten your day and step into spring. Join us for a personal retreat mid week. Meditation, qigong, tai chi, hatha yoga, massage therapy, walks and talks on medicinal plants are on offer. Alternatively, you may choose to simply enjoy the tranquillity of the space and embrace the art of doing nothing – seriously. This time out offers a slower rhythm, allowing you to step back from the busyness of life and find peace within.
Aso Balan is a certified 200-hour Hatha Yoga teacher and Wellness practitioner who has been practising for 20 years. Her mission is to make yoga accessible to everyone irrespective of their limitations and capabilities. She believes that practising yoga regularly with mindfulness and awareness is the key to attaining physical health. She also offers fusion massage blending yogic breathing with techniques from Thai, Ayurveda, and Aroma therapy.
Jean-Francois Sobiecki is a pioneering South African medicinal plant researcher, a qualified nutritionist, herbalist and research associate with the University of Johannesburg. He has conducted over 20 years of ethnobotanical research on South African medicinal plant use. With a B.Sc.Hons. EthnoBot. (UJ), Dipl Clin Nutr. (Aus) in qualifications, a book and a number of academic publications under his belt, he has been invited to present at international conferences. He is trained and qualified in medical anthropology, permaculture, clinical nutrition, and massage therapy and runs a private herbal and holistic medicine practice in Johannesburg and conducts regular workshops, trainings and tours on medicinal plant use for the public.